School Official's Firing On Agenda

JAMES CITY (COUNTY) — The School Board postponed for a second time Monday its decision on whether to fire the school finance director after meeting in closed session for more than 90 minutes.

Chairman William R. Bland said a decision will be made at tonight's board meeting. He would not give a reason for the one-day deferral.

Superintendent John E. Allen suspended his finance director, Alan R. MacDonald, with pay and recommended his dismissal, pending a hearing before the Williamsburg-James City County School Board. Neither school officials nor School Board members have indicated why MacDonald's job is in jeopardy.

The board first took up the case last week at a marathon personnel hearing Tuesday night that lasted until 5 a.m. At that meeting, board members heard about six hours of testimony from Allen, MacDonald and their attorneys. Since then, no additional information has been received and no other witnesses have been called, Bland said.

The board will meet tonight in open and closed session beginning at 7:30 at the school conference room of the Government Center.